Cumberland County, Illinois Eviction Risk: Low

Cumberland County scores 2.6/10 (Low risk) on the EvictionRiskMap scale, making it the least risky county in Illinois by this measure. Of the 102 Illinois counties ranked, all 101 others score higher, meaning landlords operating here face a more favorable environment than virtually anywhere else in the state. With a total population of just 5,108 spread across 7 cities, this is small-market territory, and its low risk profile reflects the relatively modest rent burden and tenant-protection pressures typical of rural east-central Illinois.

The county's intra-market spread is tight: city-level scores run from 2.2/10 at the low end to 2.7/10 at the top. That narrow band means conditions are broadly consistent across the county, though even a half-point difference can matter in a small-volume portfolio. Average rent here is $814, with an average rent burden of 27.9% of income, and renter households make up only 25.2% of the total, all figures that point toward a stable, owner-occupied community with a modest rental layer on top.

The cities inside Cumberland County

At the higher end of Cumberland County's range, Greenup (population 1,823, score 2.7/10) and Toledo (population 1,197, score 2.7/10) lead the county in relative risk. These are the county seat and one of its larger communities, and while a 2.7 is still solidly Low by any statewide comparison, landlords there should be aware that these markets carry the most exposure within the county. Neoga (population 1,421) scores 2.5/10, placing it in the middle of the local pack.

The most landlord-favorable market in the county is Jewett, scoring 2.2/10 with a population of 251. Trilla and Janesville both score 2.4/10, though their populations of 122 and 39 respectively mean rental inventory is extremely thin. Risk is genuinely hyper-local, and even within a low-risk county like Cumberland, choosing which city to invest in shapes your operating conditions in ways the county average cannot capture.

State-level laws that apply here

Illinois eviction law under 735 ILCS 5/9 (Forcible Entry and Detainer) sets the procedural floor for every landlord in Cumberland County. For nonpayment of rent, the required notice is 5 days; a material lease violation requires 10 days; and a month-to-month holdover requires 30 days. Understanding the Illinois eviction process matters here because even an uncontested case typically runs 30 to 60 days from filing to resolution, and a contested case can extend to 60 to 150 days. Court filing fees range from $200 to $400, sheriff lockout fees from $60 to $200, and attorney fees from $750 to $3,500 depending on complexity.

Illinois does not require just cause for most evictions, and state law preempts local rent-control ordinances statewide, so no Cumberland County municipality can impose its own rent cap. Illinois security deposit limits are governed at the state level, and landlords should review those rules before drafting leases. Source-of-income discrimination is a protected class under Illinois law, enforced by the Illinois Department of Human Rights, which is a compliance consideration that affects tenant screening decisions. For a full breakdown of what a proceeding here can cost, the Illinois eviction costs guide covers the fee schedule in detail.

With an average poverty rate of 11.2% and renters comprising only 25.2% of households, Cumberland County's tenant pool is relatively small and financially stable compared to higher-risk Illinois eviction laws markets; review the city grid above to see how each of the 7 cities scores individually before committing capital to a specific address.